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desire of his filling the office, it would be a still firmer support to his request.

As the president is decided to make his nominations on the highest principles of impartiality, those who can produce to him the best evidence of their qualifications for the offices for which they are candidates, and also of their being acceptable to the community, will undoubtedly receive his support.

As the military establishment will not probably be augmented, at present no new appointments can take place.

If an augmentation should be made, and I should be so circumstanced as to be able to advance the views of Mr. W. Warren, I shall eagerly embrace the opportunity.

The machine of government has required a considerable length of time to put it into motion, but it is ardently to be desired it may answer the public expectation.

The President has been quite sick, but is now on the recovery, although his disease will require time before it is subdued.

The minds of Mrs. Knox and myself have been severely exercised between hope and fear for some Days past, respecting the life of one of our children who has been at the point of death. We hope the crisis is past and that it is the will of the supreme principle of life to bless it with a longer continuance on this globe.

Please to present me sincerely to the General. I am, Madam, most respectfully your most Obedient Serv.,

H. KNOX

BENJAMIN LINCOLN TO MERCY WARREN

BOSTON, March 25, 1790

MADAM, - Your favour of the 22 ulto. has been received. I am pleased with the information that you are attempting the history of the late important transaction of this country which led to its seperation from Great Britain. It must be considered as a fortunate circumstance indeed when there unites in the historian the means of the best information, the power of perfectly pre

serving the materials, an ability pleasingly to arrange them and a disposition to undertake the laborous task.

Permit me, Madam, to assure you that there is nothing in my power which I will not undertake to facilitate the execution of your laudable design. My public papers are at your command. As it will be a work of time to examine them all, I will aid in the business if you will please to point me to any particular transaction on which you wish information. I have the honour of being, Madam, with Sentiments of real esteem your friend and servant, B. LINCOLN

GEORGE WASHINGTON TO MERCY WARREN

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NEW YORK, June 4th, 1790

MADAM, I did not receive before the last Mail the letter wherein you favored me with a copy of the Dedication, which you propose affixing to a Work preparing for publication.1 Although I have ever wished to avoid being drawn into public view more than was essentially necessary for public purposes; yet, on the present occasion, duly sensible of the Merits of the respectable and amiable writer, I shall not hesitate to accept the intended honor.

With only leisure to thank you for your indulgent sentiments, and to wish that your Work may meet with the encouragement which I have no doubt it deserves; I hasten to present the Compliments of Mrs. Washington, and to subscribe myself, with great esteem and regard, Madam, Your Most Obedient and Very Humble Servt.

Go. WASHINGTON

I Poems, Dramatic and Miscellaneous. By Mrs. M. Warren. Printed by Thomas and Andrews at Boston in 1790. The Dedication to Washington is dated March 20, 1790. See letter from Washington, November 4, 1790, infra. Mrs. Warren's letter offering the Dedication, May 1, 1790, is printed in Correspondence of the Revolution, Letters to Washington, IV. 326.

MARTHA WASHINGTON TO MERCY WARREN

NEW YORK, June the 12, 1790

MY DEAR MADAM, I ought to apologise for the interval that has passed between the receipt and acknowledgment of your obliging letter written in March last; but I hardly know what apology will be sufficient to excuse the apparent, though unintentional neglect. I believe the truth is always the best ground for an apology on such occasions. Though I may not have a great deal of business of consequence to do; yet I have a great many avocations of one kind or another which imperceptibly consumes my time, and I know not wheather one's reluctance to writing much, does not increase with one's years. The sevear illness with which the President was attacked some weeks agoe, absorbed every other consideration, in my care and anxiety for him. These reasons, I trust, will have their due weight in your candid mind. During the President's sickness, the kindness which everybody manifested, and the interest which was universally taken in his fate, were really very affecting to me. He seemed less concerned himself as to the event, than perhaps almost any other person in ye United states. Happily he is now perfectly recovered, and I am restored to my ordinary state of tranquility, and usually good flow of spirits. For my part, I contrive to be as happy hear as I could be at any place except Mount Vernon. In truth I should be very ungreatfull if I did not acknowledge that every thing has been done, which politeness, hospitality or friendship could suggest, to make my situation as satisfactory and agreeable as possible. My grand children have likewise good oppertunities for acquiring an useful and accomplished education. In their happiness, my own is, in a great measure, involved. But for the ties of affection which attract me so strongly to my near connection and worthy friends, I should feel myself indeed much weaned from all enjoyments of this transitory life.

If congress should have recess this summer (as it is expected will be the case) I hope to go home to Mount Vernon for a few months; and from that expectation I already derive much comfort. Especially as, I believe, the exercise, relaxation and amuse

ment to be expected from such a journey, will tend very much to confirm the President's health. This is also the opinion of all his Physicians.

In passing down the vale of time, and in journeying through such a mutable world as that in which we are placed, we must expect to meet with a great and continual mixture of afflictions and blessings. This is a mingled cup which an over ruling providence undoubtedly dispences to us for the wisest and best of purposes. And as you justly observe, shall we short-sighted mortals dare to arraign the decrees of eternal wisdom.

That you and yours may always be under the kind protection and guardianship of that providence is the sincere wish of, dear Madam, your affectionate friend and humble Servant

M. WASHINGTON

JAMES WINTHROP TO MERCY WARREN

CAMBRIDGE, 13 July, 1790

MADAM, Your very polite letter of 25 May I have been honored with. It was left at my lodgings while I was upon a journey. The flattering attention which you shewed toward an old friend, would have been sufficient of itself, to have engaged me in forwarding the work proposed in the advertisement which you inclosed. But before the receit of it I was already engaged, and if a Gentleman of the University had supported it as readily as he promised, we should have had more subscribers in that society. As it is, finding your work in the press, I have returned the paper to the printer with several names in the civil line affixed to it, and some of them I hope you will not be displeased to see.

Your compliments of condolance were very interesting to us all. Madam Winthrop's 1 death we did not generally expect, and for a considerable time did not see the need of it. Her own opinion from the beginning was, that it was her last illness. But You

1 Hannah, daughter of Thomas Fayerweather. She had for a first husband Farr Tolman, and married Professor Winthrop in 1756. Professor Winthrop died May 3, 1779.

know every circumstance, the same chamber, the same bed, every object the same, the age of the patient, and the time of the year being the same as took place with respect to Dr. Winthrop at his death, were all fitted for impressing his widow with the idea of following her husband to his long home. She frequently spoke familiarly of her death, but those around her could [not] join in the conversation. The idea was too painful.

The mansion house is settled upon me. When I shall get into it I do not know. I have lived pretty much by accident till I have turned thirty-eight. It is not I believe the want of that sensibility which induces partial attachments, that has prevented me from a regular manner of life; but it has been the want of funds. Governor Hancock's disorder tho' not severe seems to be fixed. In the strife of parties it is difficult to know what to believe. I am Madam, with much respect to You and General Warren Your most obedt Servant,

JAMES WINTHROP

I forgot to mention Major Warren's visit. I got home to dine that day, but did not know of his being in this town till the next morning. My respects to him and his brothers. When is he to do better than I have done? It will take some weeks to abate the gloominess of ideas with regard to the house where my Parents resided; but I hope soon to have the pleasure of waiting on General Warren and Lady there, and their sons as often as they come into this town.

BENJAMIN LINCOLN TO MERCY WARREN

BOSTON, Sepr. 21, 1790

DEAR MADAM,- This will be given you by my young friend your amiable Son H[enr]y. He returns to you not because he is materially worse than when he left Plymouth but because Docr. Dexter, his Physician, friend, and councillor thinks the business in the office is of such a nature as will endanger the loss of his little remaining health if he pursues it. It is with real regret that I part

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